Phonograph reproducing sound box or horn.



PATBNTED NOV. 28, 1905.

R. HEAD. PHONOGRAPH REPRODUGING SOUND BOX OR HORN.

APPLIUATIOF FILED MAY 18,1904.

WITNESSES. IW/ENTORw QM; War/M6 1 Robertflawd,

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrion.

ROBERT HEAD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO EDIVIN WVALKER, OF

4 ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PHONOGRAPH REPRODUCING SOUND BOX OR HORN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28, 1905.

Application filed May 18, 1904. Serial No. 208,539.

To all whom it Wtay concern:

from objectionable harsh metallic notes andtones, such as are commonly secured by ordinary machines of thls class. I also aim to dispense with that part of the ordinary machine commonly known as the reproducer, which usually consists of a metallic body or soundbox and a pliable diaphragm confined or held therein, whereby I am able to materially cheapen the cost of manufacture.

The invention is susceptible of embodiment in one form of construction in such manner as to produce a machine at much less cost than those heretofore made and that is well adapted for use as an advertising novelty; but of course my invention may also be manufactured to meet the demands for a better or higher grade of machine.

Broadly speaking, my invention consists of a phonograph member which combines in one and the same structure a sound box or horn and a reproducer, so that thismember may be aptly termed a reproducing sound box or horn.

I have found that a sound box or horn made of a non-metallic substance, such as stiff paper or other material, with a stylus attached or connected to a section thereof at such a point as will afford the necessary tension or pliability, is well adapted to reproduce sounds from a record of any suitable nature, either a cylindrical record or a disk record, the tapering form of the horn materially amplifying the sound-waves produced by the vibration of said section of the horn or trumpet. According to this form of the invention the stylus, preferably of a non-metallic nature, is united directly to a portion of the conical sound box or horn near the closed apex thereof and to a part of said box or horn which is under the required tension or which has the necessary pliability to enable it to return with the stylus quickly to the original condition subsequent to deflection by the undulations in the record, whereby the vibrating section or member and the stylus are actuated by the high points or hills of the record and are returned to normal positions by the pliability of said section or member when the stylus travels in the depressions or valleys of the record.

The invention is also susceptible of embodiment in various other forms of construction; but in all forms of my reproducing sound box or horn the stylus and the vibratory member or diaphragm are preferably made of nonmetallic materials in order to avoid the harsh metallic tones and the objectionable grating sounds. A paper sound box or horn with a glass stylus has been found to give exceedingly good results; but of course I do not desire to limit myself to these particular materials.

In another form of construction I employ a conical sound box or horn with a pliable section or diaphragm forming an integral part of the structure located at or close to the closed end thereof, said pliable section or diaphragm being vibrated by a stylus in contact with a record, and said stylus being connected either directly to the vibratory diaphragm or through the instrumentality of intermediate devices. These devices may be employed for several purposes, such as for amplifying the vibrations of the diaphragm or to enable the reproducing sound box or horn to be used in connection with a disk record or a cylindrical record or to provide for the expeditious interchange of one stylusnn for another.

Although I have stated that the reproducing sound box or horn may be made of paper or other non-metallic materials, it is to he understood that by using a vibrating diaphragm or section of mica or other pliable material I may employ a metallic horn the active soundproducing part of which is made of said pliable diaphragm or section. In some cases a metallic horn with a thin-metal vibratory diaphragm or section may be used, the broad feature of the invention consisting of a reproducing sound box or horn having a vibratory portion, section, or diaphragm with which is associated a stylus that is effective in giving v pulsations thereto without the employment of an ordinary reproducer.

Further ob ects and advantages of the invention Wlll appear in the course of the subjoined description, and the actual scope of the invention will be defined by the annexed claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like characters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the ligures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved sound box or horn for phonographs, the same being shown in cooperative relation to a phonograph-cylinder and a suitable supportingstem. Figs. 2 and 3 are views in bottom plan and side elevation, illustrating another embodiment of the invention. Figs t and 5 are views in side elevation and in end elevation, respec t ively, of a further embodiment of the inventlon. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of another form of construction. Figs. 7 and 8 are views in side and end elevation, respectively, of a still further modified construction.

In the form of construction shown by Fig. 1 the sound box or horn is represented in the form of a cone which is closed at the apex, as at a, and open at the mouth. The sound-box may be of any desired size and capacity, the same consisting of a cone closed at one end; but, as shown by the several figures of the drawings, this conical sound-box is extended into a horn of any desired size and capacity. I prefer to make the sound-box of non-metallic material, the same being made, preferably although not essentially, of stiff paper or cardboard bent into a conical form and having overlapping edges, the latter being united or fastened by any suitable devices, such as the ball and -socket fasteners indicated at 0.. These fastenings detachably unite the edges of the horn or sound-box and enable the material to be shipped either in a rolled or in a flat condition.

In connection with the conical sound box or horn A, I employ a stylus, (indicated at 13,) the same being connected with a part of the sound-box that is under the required tension or which has the necessary pliability to enable vibrations to be given thereto by the movement of the stylus as it follows the undulations in the record. In the form of construction shown by Fig. 1 this stylus is united in a suitable way directly to one side of the sound box or horn near the closed end or apex thereof, whereby that part of the horn or sound-box to which the stylus is attached is adapted to have vibrations imparted thereto in a way to serve as a diaphragm, thus enabling the sound box or horn to reproduce of itself the sound-waves, the latter being increased in volume as they flow through the sound box or horn. I have found that the good results are obtained by fastening or attaching the stylus to the conical sound-box at a short distance from the closed apex thereof; but this stylus must not be located too close to the apex to of the sound-box, nor must it be located too far toward the open end or mouth of the sound-box. I prefer to employ a non-metallic stylus, and it has been found that a stylus made of glass or other similar material gives excellent results. Said stylus may be united directly to a vibratory section orpart of the sound-box by a sealing material; but it is evident that the particular fastening adopted may be modified within certain limits.

The reproducing sound-box shown by Fig. l isespecially designed for use in connection with cylindrical records, the position of which is indicated at C. Of course the horn is mounted to project over the cylindrical record in order that the weight of the horn may be imposed on the record. and thus keep the stylus B in engagement with the grooved or channeled working surface of said record. It is to be understood that the record has rotary movement given thereto by any suitable type of mechanical device; but as the means for supporting and rotating the record do not form apart of my invention I have not considered it necessary to illustrate and describe the same in detail herein.

As before indicated, the sound box or horn A is adapted to be mounted by suitable devices which permit the sound-box to turn on a vertical axis as the stylus follows the groove or channel in the record, and in Fig. 1 I have indicated a simple device adapted to support said sound-box. A vertical stem or spindle D passes through a slot (0 in the lower side of the sound-box, and the upper end of this spindle has a shoulder and tenon, the latter being indicated at (Z and shown as fitting in an opening in the upper .side of the soundbox. The weight of the sound -box at its open mouth rests on the shoulder of the spindle, and the slot (6 in the lower side of the sound-box permits the latter to turn on the tenon (Z as the stylus B travels along the record.

In the forms of construction shown by Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive, I have shown a sound-box having vibratory diaphragms, preferably of non -metallic nature, and forming parts of metallic horns, and with these diaphragins are associated different forms of stylus which are combined with devices that enable the soundbox to be used in connection either with cylindrical records or disk records.

In Figs. 2 and 3 a sound-box E is provided near its closed apex with an opening a, which is covered by adiaphragm F, the latter being of curvilinear form and united to the soundbox in a way to place it under tension. I prefer to make this diaphragm F of mica or other non-metallic material, said diaphragm being located in one side of the horn. The stylus B is attached to an arm G, the latter being located on the under side of the sound-box and having one end pivoted, as at g, to the said sound-box E, while its other end 1s unlted 1n a suitable way, as at g, to the diaphragm F. In this form of construction I prefer to employ a non-metallic stylus and a non-metallic diaphragm, although these parts may be made of metal, if desired.

In Figs. 4 and 5 there is shown a form of sound box or horn that is adapted for use in connection with a disk record, the latter being adapted for rotation on a vertical axis, while the cylindrical record C rotates on a horizontal axis. In the construction shown by said figures the sound-box H is preferaby of conical form, closed at its apex. and made, preferably, of non-metallic material, such as mica, although other materials may be used. This conical sound-box is extended into or united with a horn A, which may be of metal or other material. An arm I is attached to the horn, and on this arm is hung or pivoted a vibratory arm J, the latter being united to the conical sound-box H at the point indicated at 7'. This vibratory arm depends below the sound-box H, to which it is united, and at its lower part said arm is provided with means which enables a stylus B to be removed and replaced by a fresh stylus easily and quickly. This supporting and holding means is in the form of a clamp K, having spring-fingers Z:,

the latter extending in opposite directions. These fingers are spaced or separated a short distance on a diagonal line, and on one side of the uppermost finger is a curved ledge Zn. In fitting a stylus-pin B in a clamp or holder it is placed in the diagonal space between the fingers for the blunt end or heel of said pin to engage with the curved shoulder is, and this pin is then turned to press it into engagement with the fingers k, the latter yielding to the passage of the pin and the heel of said pin riding against the curved shoulder 7c,which shoulder limits the endwise movement of the pin in the holder and determines its position therein. The fingers of the holder confine the pin firmly in place; but when it is desired to remove the pin it is only necessary to press it in the reverse direction, thereby disengaging it from the fingers 7c and enabling the operator to lift the pin out of the holder with ease.

A simple form of sound-box is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, wherein a vibratory section or part F of non-metallic material forms a vibratory diaphragm and an integral part of a conical sound-box, such as A This vibratory section F is circular in cross-section and tapered lengthwise, the same being united to the parts A a of the conical sound box or horn, the part forming the closed apex of said sound-box. This vibratory section F is of mica or similar material, and it is united in any appropriate way to the other parts of the sound-box. The stylus B is of glass or other non-metallic material, and it is shown as being united directly to the vibratory diaphragm F, although said stylus may be connected with said diaphragm by either of the devices disclosed in this application or by any suitable means.

A sound-box A of another form of construction is represented by Figs. 7 and 8, wherein a small end a is cutoff and left open, as shown. This open end of the sound-box is closed by a flexible diaphragm L, the same being of non-metallic material, such as mica, and attached in a suitable way to the body of the sound-box. A lug m extends rearwardly from the sound-box, and to it is pivoted an angle-lever M, one end of which is attached, as at m, to the diaphragm L, while the other arm is equipped with a stylus B", the latter being attached to ride on a cylindrical record C.

In each form of construction heretofore shown and described the stylus follows the undulations in the record when the latter is rotated, and vibratory movement is imparted by the stylus to the diaphragm or vibratory section of the sound-box. The vibration of the diaphragm or other part or section of the sound-box reproduces the sound-waves, which are amplified in volume as they fiow through the horn.

I prefer to make the sound-box and the stylus of non-metallic materials for the purpose of overcoming the harsh metallic tones which are commonly produced by ordinary instruments or machines having metallic diaphragms and a metallic stylus.

The several devices heretofore described contemplate the use of various forms of soundboxes, either of which may be equipped with means to adapt it for use on a disk record or on a cylindrical record. I also contemplate the provision of a sound box or horn with two styli, one of which is adapted for use on a disk and the other on a cylinder, thereby enabling a single horn to be used at will and without change or modification in its structure on either kind of record. One such embodiment of the invention is shown by Figs. 4 and 5, wherein a stylus for a disk is indicated at B while the other stylus is designated at 0. It is to be understood that a sound-box equipped as described may be used by simply changing its position to bring one or the other stylus into service with the proper kind of record.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a'phonograph, or similar machine, a reproducing-horn having a stylus attached directly thereto.

2. In a phonograph, or similar machine, a reproducing-horn closed at one end, and a stylus connected directly to a vibratory part of said horn.

3. In a phonograph, or similar machine, a reproducing-horn having a vibratory part and a stylus connected directly to said vibratory part.

4. A phonograph reproducing device, having a curvilinear vibratory member, a part of said member being composed of a different material from the main body thereof, and a stylus connected With said vibratory part.

5. A phonograph reproducing device, having a vibratory member, a part of said member being composed of a different material from the main body thereof, and a stylus attached directly to said vibratory part.

6. A phonograph sound-reproducer, a part of Which is a curvilinear surface forming a vibratory diaphragm, and a stylus attached rigidly and directly to said diaphragm.

7. A. phonograph-horn having a curvilinear surface Which forms a vibratory member, and a stylus projecting directly from the member and adapted to impart vibrations thereto.

8. A phonograph-horn having a non-metallic vibratory part or member continuous with the horn and composed of a different material from the main body of the horn, and a stylus adapted to impart vibrations to said part or member.

9. A phonograph-horn, havinganon-metallic stylus attached directly to a side Wall of said horn.

10. A phonograph-horn, having a non-metallic vibratory part located in the side of the horn, and a non-metallic stylus connected directly to said part.

11. A reproducing-horn, a part of said horn being under tension, and astylus attached directly to said part under tension.

12. A phonograph reproducing device, the diaphragm of Which is a curvilinear surface, and a stylus secured directly to said-curvilinear surface.

13. A phonograph reproducing device, the diaphragm of which is a conical surface, and a stylus projecting from said surface and adapted to impart vibrations directly thereto.

14. A phonograph reproducing device consisting of a flexible horn and astylus for imparting vibrations directly to said horn.

15. Aphonograph reproducing device comprising a paper horn, having a stylus connected directly to the same near one end thereof.

16. A phonograph reproducing device comprising a non-metallic horn, having edges united along a longitudinal seam or joint, and a stylus secured directly to a part of the horn laterally of the seam or joint 17. A phonograph reproducing device comprising a non-metallic horn united detachably at its edges, and a stylus for imparting vibratory movement directly to a part of the horn.

18. A phonograph reproducingdevice comprising a horn, having a vibratory section in one side thereof, and a stylus for vibrating the section.

19. A phonograph reproducing device comprising a horn, having a vibratory diaphragm made of a different material from the body of the horn and extending around the same, and

a stylus for vibrating the diaphragm.

20. A phonograph reproducing device having a vibratory curvilinear diaphragm at one end composed of a different material from the main body thereof, and a stylus attached rigidly to the diaphragm.

21. A phonograph-reproducer, having a vibratory conical member made of a different material from the body thereof, and a stylus for imparting vibrations to said member.

22. A sound-reproducer, comprising a horn having a stylus rigidly attached to the material of said horn and projecting therefrom intermediate its ends.

23. A sound-reproducer comprising a horn made of flexible material, and a stylus attached directly to said flexible material and projecting therefrom intermediate of its ends.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ROBERT HEAD. \Vitnesses:

JAs. H. GRIFFIN, EDWIN WALKER. 

